Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-06
Ar EXPLANATION.

Hugh y. Campbell Explains His Former
Motives and Ofncial Acts The Ont
rage OF the Government Against Da-
kota.
st. Paul Pioneer Press Yankton
special: A Pioneer Press correspon-
dent asked Hon. Hugh Campbell the
other day what there was in the charge
that he neglected his duty as United
States attorney while in office in regard
to school lands, and alao with regard to
bribery and violation of election laws.
In reply Judge Campbell said:
While / was United States attorney in
IS79-S0 Mr.. Chaffee of Armenia was the
fret party to bring TO my attention the
occupation of school lands in north
Dakota. l at once for warded his COM
plant to the attorney general, request
ion authority from him to bring civil
suits for ejeotment against the intrn-
ders. As 500 as j received this authori-
~ | proceeded to bring suits against
school land trespassers in all parts of
the territory. These snits to the number
OF about h hundred were resisted by
an organization of SCHOOL, and trespasseys
who raised funds for resisting. After
~various delays interposed by them
succeeded at last in getting them to
trial upon demurrers interposed by the
defense, which raised the question OF
law that was the sole defense IN all the
cases. These demnrrers were decided
IN favor of the government by Judge
Hudson and the cases were then set for
trial upon the facts, In the meantime
MIR. Dalrymple and others acting for the
defendant went to Washington and
made o strenuous effort before
the attorney general (Brewster) to get
an order from him peremptorily di-
reoting me to- dismiss the suits. By
some means, which / do not pretend to
characterize, they did obtain from Mr..
Brewster such an order, which I received
shortly before the accession of Oleve-
lands administration. / quietly held
the order i'll my office, refused to dIs-
miss the suits, and the day after the n
augnration Of Mr.. Cleveland wrote q
letter to Mr.. Garland, the new attorney
general, stating to him all the facts,
giving him my views against the dis
missal OF the suits, and requesting in
structlons in regard thereto. i imme-
diately received an order reyoking Mr..
Brewster's order, anG directing me- to
prosecute the suits with vigor. This !
prepared to do, and was In the active
prosecution of the cases when my
successor was appointed, to whom ]
tnrned them oyer. AS to the other
charges 1 will simply say this-that /
brought promptly before the grand
uries every case OF election frauds OF
timber spoilation that were brought to
my attention.
What do You think OF the Statement
that the administration may have you
arrested for your utterances regarding
itR attitude towards Dakota's division
and admission !?
II suppose that is q joke, but have
been told that it was ~telegraphed as
corning from an employee in one of the
departments at Washington. While ]
fully agree that this administration is q
good deal OF an ass in some things, ]
hardly think il sss enough to entertail
such q silly idea.
/ hope on the next fourth OF July te
repeat my sentiments of memorial day
Every word / said is strictly true. NJ
such outrage has ever been perpetrate6
by the American government as its sc-
tion toward Dakota for six years, Ite
course is utterly unconstitutional and
Boon will be unbearable.